Combination automotive-vehicle truck lock and seal device



' 1949- G. BENNETT ET AL 2,479,199

COMBINATION AU VEHICLE TRUCK I TOMOTIVE LOCK AND SEAL DEVICE Filed Aug.5, 1948 longitudinally extending groove I8 formed in its peripheralsurface and a correspondingly shaped complementary tongue I'I slidablyengages in the groove I6. This tongue I! is formed as an integral partof the lower end portion of a key-controlled lock body I8 which isprovided with spaced openings I9 and 28 which extend therethrough forthe reception and passage of the arms I2 and I3, respectively, of theU-shaped shackle mem} ber II. The key-controlled lock body I8 may be ofany suitable design and construction and includes a key-controlled lockcylinder 2I which is provided with a centrally arranged key slot 22(Fig. 3). In addition, the key-controlled lock body I8 is of the typewhich includes tumblers and related means (not shown), under the controlof the key-controlled lock cylinder 2|, for

locking engagement in the notches I4 and I5 inthe arms I2 and I3 of theU-shaped shackle member II so as to secure the lock body I8 in lockedposition upon the arms I2 and I3 of the U-shaped shackle member II. 1

The long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II has a substantiallycylindrical lower portion 23 and this lower portion 23 of the long armI2 of the U-shaped shackle member II has a seal-receiving slot 24 formedin the upper end portion thereof and extending diametricallytherethrough (Figs. 2 and 5). This slot 24 is adapted for the receptionof the strap portion 25 of a frangible seal 28.

The long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II has a substantiallycylindrical unnotched lower end portion 21 of reduced diameter, relativeto the diameter of the lower portion 23 of the long arm I2, and thelower edge of the substantially cylindrical lower portion 23 of the armI2 of the substantially U-shaped shackle member II has a substantiallyV-shaped notch 28 formed therein. As shown in Fig. 2, the apex of thisV- shaped notch 28 is directed upwardly and the notch 28 opens at itsupper end and apex into the lower end portion of the elongatedlongitudinal groove I8 in the long arm I2 of the U- shaped shacklemember II. The notch 28 opens at its lower end onto the peripheralsurface of the reduced and substantially cylindrical lower end portion21 of the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II.

A substantially annular retaining flange 29 is formed upon the lower endportion of the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II and as anintegral part thereof.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 1, 6 and 7 that the tongue IIwhich is formed in the lock body I8 extends only a short distanceupwardly from the lower edge thereof.

The use and operation of the new automotive vehicle combination trucklock and seal device are as follows:

When the new automotive vehicle combination truck lock and seal thenceis disposed in unlocked and unsealed position the parts are arrangedsubstantially as in Fig. '1 and when the parts are in this position thelock body I8 rests upon the substantially annular retaining flange 29which is formed on the lower end portion of the long arm I2 of theU-shaped shackle member II. When the lock body I8 is so disposed it maybe rotated upon and relative to the substantially cylindrical unnotchedportion 23 of the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II byreason of the fact that the reduced diameter of the lower end portion 21of the long arm I 2 of the U-shaped shackle member II permitsdisengagement of the tongue I! from the groove I8 and consequent turningmovement of the lock body I8 upon the lower end portion of the long armI2 of the shackle member II and relative thereto.

It will also be noted, in this connection, that the heighth of the lockbody I8 is such that when it is disposed in unlocked and open positionupon the retaining flange 29 its upper edge is disposed below the lowerend of the short arm I3 of the U-shaped shackle member II so that thelock body I8 may be rotated upon and relative to the long arm I2 of theU-shaped shackle member II.

It will also be noted that the location of the seal-receiving slot'24 inthe long arm I2 of the shackle II and the height of the lock body I8 areso related to each other that when the lock body I8 is disposed inunlocked position, as in Fig. 1, the lock body I8 closes and concealsthe sealreceiving slot 24 and the upper edge of the lock body is extendsabove the upper end of the sealreceiving slot 24. Hence it is impossibleto insert the strap portion 25 of the frangible seal 28 through theseal-receiving slot 24 in the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle memberII until the lock body I8 is slidably moved along the long arm I2 of theU-shaped shackle member II into a position such that the lower edge ofthe lock body passes above the upper end of the seal-receiving slot 24and the short arm I3 of the shackle I I is engaged in the opening 28which is provided therefor in the lock body I8. When the lock body is sopositioned upon and relative to the U- shaped shackle member II a properkey may be inserted into the key slot 22 in the key cylinder 2| and thetumblers and other operating parts of the lock body I8 manipulated intolocking engagment with the notches I4 and I5 in the arms I2 and I3,respectively, of the U-shaped shackle member I I so as to lock the lockbody upon and against removal from the arms I2 and I3 of the U-shapedshackle member II, whereupon the key may be removed from the key slot22. The strap 25 of the frangible seal 26 may then be inserted throughthe seal-receiving slot 24 in the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shacklemember II and the end portions. of the seal strap 25 sealed together ina manner which is well understood in the art. It will thus be seen thatin the use of the new combination automotive vehicle truck lock and sealdevice the officials of a trucking company by which the new combinationtruck lock and seal device is used will know that the rear doors of atruck or truck trailer upon which the new combination lock and sealdevice is installed were locked before the frangible seal 25-28 wasinstalled by an authorized employee or oflicial of the trucking company.

Similarly. when the frangible seal 2526 is removed the officials, of thetrucking company will know that the frangible seal 25-28 was brokenbefore the new combination truck lock and seal device was unlockedbecause the new combination truck lock and seal device cannot beunlocked and opened until the seal 25-26 is broken and removed from theslot 24 and the lock body I8 is moved into its lowered and unlocked andopen position as in Fig. 1. Thus in the use of the new combination trucklock and seal device the officials of the trucking company by which itmay be employed will be enabled to check upon the locking and sealing oftheir trucks and trucktrailers and theft therefrom will be materiallyreduced.

The substantially V-shaped notch 28 facilitates the entrance of thetongue portion I! of the lock mutatin bod is into?thelongitudinallyextndingsgroove t6 un thelong arm vizier the 'u -?sl'iapedshackle member 1 H as the lock body llbisrmoved upwardly alongt the 1long arm l 31:of- 'the-zusshaped shackle member 1 l i-nto i lockedposition, As the lock body "I i's -thus movedinto positiomtdbeelocked onthe arms I 2 and t3 of the': Uis'hape'd shackle member ll -it exposesthe seal-receiving-slot- 24i.

"The mating i engagement of the' -tongue 1 the groove l fi preventsrotational:or-turningmove: ment or thelock eddy tau-pen andrelativetatue long anal-r f thelf shalped shacklemember J f and assurestliatthe' l'del body l'8 e'a'lnnot be mov'eli upwardly along: oriearrnel -"the U=sh aped shackle member? I l witho' t the same time, beingmoved epwardlyalong I S Of-tl-ie -U- shapedsliacklei nremberkcintoxpiositicnsto be locked thereon. 1

it will be noted; this connection, that.

the-mating engagement (if thez-sto'iig u'e I l lain: the

groove I-6- necessitates thatithe shortaarm [3110f the U-shapedshacklemember ll enter into the hole -or opening2ll in-the lock body [8as the lock body 18 is slid upwardly along the arm I2 of the U-shapedshackle'member II to expose the sealreceiving slot: 24. V

A modification of the inventionis:illustratedin Fig. 8 of thedrawing andthose parts thereof which are substantially similar'to correspondingparts illustrated in Figs. lrtoifl, inclusive,-..have' beengivenisimilar reference numeralsgfoll'owed by the additionalranddistinguishing reference character. a.

The-modification. of theinvention; which is: illustrlated in -llig.8770f. the drawing is substantially similar to thekform. of theinvention illustratedzin Figs; 1 to '7, inclusive,exceptsthairiri themodification illustrated in Fig. 8 the tongue Ila is formed in and uponthe peripheral surface of the arm I2a of the U-shaped shackle member,rather than in the lock body I8, as in the form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and the corresponding grooveIlia is formed in the lower end portion of the lock body 1811, ratherthan in the long arm I2 of the U-shaped shackle member II, as in theform of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present inventionprovides a new and improved combination automotive vehicle truck lockand seal device having the desirable advantages and characteristics, andaccomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointedout and others which are inherent in the invention.

We claim:

1. A combination automotive vehicle truck lock and seal devicecomprising a U-shaped shackle member including a relatively short armand a relatively long arm, the said relatively longarm I including acylindrical lower end portion'having a r sealreceiving slot formedtherein and extending diametrically therethrough and adapted for thereception of the strap portion of a frangible seal, a key-controlledlock body having a pair of spaced parallel openings extendingtherethrough for the reception of the said arms so that the said body isslidably mounted upon the said arms, means arranged upon the lower endportion of the said relatively long arm retaining the said lock bodythereon in unlocked and open position, the said key-controlled lock bodybeing of a heighth such that when it is disposed in unlocked and openposition upon the said retaining'means it 6,. extendsrover fand-.cl"oses*:the .saidssealereceivihg slot; andithe :height of ithesaidlock body be'ing suchsthat: Lthe' upper edge thereof. is'vdisposedslightly :belomthe: lowermendrof 'ithe said relatively short: armewhereby 'lthexsaidi lock body may be rotated: circuinterentiallyraroundthe saidcylindricall lower: end portion o'flthe id' r'elativ'el-y longarmwhen-the said lock bodyr. is in un=l ocked= e-p'osition giandinterengaging means for'ined e: 'said' lock body -and in the" saidrelatively g arm or preventing rotational or turning movement: or -thesaid lock :body' upon. and rel-ative' to thea-said substantially-I El-shaped shackle in .mber' whenthe saidlock body-isslid along the saidrelatively long arm toi expose the 'saidsealreceitdngisldt there' 11w 11 4:2; sA'ucombination automotive vehicle trues-lock and s'ealildeviceas defined irrclaim l-iriwhiclr the saidrinterengag'ing means" is:' inthe form of ran elongated. longitudinally extending grooveform d in'itheperipheral surface 7 of -the -'said relatively l ong-iarm and acorrespondingly shaped compilementarytcmgue formedinthe said loek body'alid adapted-to: slidably .engage i the -sa 1 groove' whenrthezsaidr Ilock body .is slidably *1 moved up wardly along tlie said= shacklemember away i roiir t-lieasaid retainingmcans thereon andinuadirectioni't'o expose the said seal-receiving slot in the saidrelatively long arm, 1 the said groove extend ingparallelto: andaboveand below the saidseal receiving slot. a

4 3. A combination automotive vehicle truck lock and seal device asdefi'ned 'in" claim lin 'whicl i thesaid interengagirig meansis in theform: ofan elongated-:iongitudiiially extending. groove formed in: theperipheral: surface \of' theasa'i'd "relatively long :arm and acorrespondingly shape'd c'om'ple-= mentary tongue formed in the saidlochbody and adapted to: slidablyagengage im the: said: 3 groove whenthe said lock body is slidably moved upwardly along the said shacklemember away from the said retaining means thereon and in a direction toexpose the said seal-receiving slot in the i said relatively long arm,and in which the said relatively long arm has a lower end portion ofreduced diameter and in which the said groove terminates at its lowerend at the upper edge of the. said reduced lower end portion of the saidrelatively long arm, the said groove extending parallel to and above andbelow the said sealreceiving slot.

4. A combination automotive vehicle truck lock and seal device asdefined in claim 1 in which the said interengaging means is in the formof an elongated longitudinally extending groove formed in the peripheralsurface of the said relatively long arm and a correspondingly shapedcomplementary tongue formed in the lower end portion of the said lockbody and adapted to slidably engagein the said groove when the said lockbody is slidably moved upwardly along the said means thereon and in adirection to expose the a said seal-receiving slot in the saidrelatively long arm, and in which the said relatively long arm has alower end portion of reduced diamete r and in which the said grooveterminates at its lower end at the upper edge of the said reduced lowerend portion of the said relatively long arm, and in which the height ofthe said tongue is substantially less than the distance between thelower end of the said groove and the said retaining means upon the saidrelatively long arm, said groove extending parallel to and above andbelow the said seal-receiving slot.

5. A combination automotive vehicle truck lock and seal device asdefined in claim 1 in which the said interengaging means is in the formof an elongated longitudinally extending groove formed in the peripheralsurface of the said relatively long arm and a correspondingly shapedcomplementary tongue formed in the said lock body and adapted toslidably engage in the said groove when the said lock body is slidablymoved upwardly along the said shackle member away from the saidretaining means thereon and in a direction to expose the saidseal-receiving, slot in the said relatively long arm; and in which thesaid relatively long arm has a lower end portion of reduced diameter,and in which the said groove terminates at its lower end at the upperedge of the said reduced lower end portion of the said relatively longarm, and in which the height of the said tongue is less than thedistance between the lower end of the said groove and the said retainingmeans upon the said relatively long arm, and in which the said reducedlower end portion of the said relatively 10Ilg arm has a V-shaped notchformed therein with the apex of the said V-shaped notch opening upwardlyinto and merging into the lower end portion of said groove.

6. A combination automotive Vehicle truck lock and seal device asdefined in claim 1 in which the said relatively long arm has alongitudinally extending tongue formed in its peripheral surface and inwhich the lower end portion of the said lock body has a correspondinglyshaped complementary groove formed therein adapted to slidably receivethe said tongue when the said lock body is slidably moved upwardly alongthe said shackle member away from the said retaining means thereon andin a direction to expose the said seal-receiving slot.

7. A combination automotive vehicle truck lock "Greww 1 i w Mam M --r5.12%: a a.

8, and'seal device comprising a U-shaped shackle member including arelatively short arm and a relatively longarm, a key-controlled lockbody having spaced openings formed therein for the reception of the saidarms of the said U-shaped shackle member, so that the said lock body isslidably mounted upon the said arms, the said relatively long arm of thesaid shackle member having a seal-receiving slot formed therein adaptedfor the reception of a frangible seal adapted to be extendedtherethrough below the said key-controlled lock body when the saidkey-controlled lock body is disposed in locked position upon andrelative to the said arms of the said shackle memher, and the saidkey-controlled lock body obstructing the said seal-receiving slot in thesaid relatively long arm and preventing the passage of a frangible sealthrough the said seal-receiving slot when the said key-controlled lockbody is disposed in unlocked position upon and relative to the said armsof the said shackle member.

GEORGE BENNETT. ALBERT L. HAUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 319,400 Gaines June 2, 1885431,051 Greene July 1, 1890 902,456 Sohni et a1 Oct. 27, 1908 1,579,632Best Apr. 6, 1926 1,867,689 Van Leer July 19, 1932 2,093,653 Young Sept.21, 1937 2,422,841 McClain June 24, 1947

